Speculum.



W. MEYER.

SPBGULUH.

Annunci num un. 11, 190s.

Pate'nted Sept. 22, 1908.

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WILLIAM MEYE R, OF CHICAGO, ILLIXOXS.

SPECULUM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented sept. 22, 1908.

Application led March 11, 1908. Serial No. 420,516.

To all fwlwm. it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLiAu MEYER, a citizen of the United States, residing at (Thicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful lmprmements in Specula: and l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in speculums, particularly of the type provided with illuminating apparatus.

The object in view is the construction of a speculum designed for obviating interference of the swab with the light, and atthe same time providing a smooth, even, substantially cylindrical surface for those portions of the specuhnu contacting with the walls of the passage being inspected.

With this and further objects in view, the invention comprises cert-ain novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing z-F igure 1 is a view in side. elevation of a speculum embodying the features of the present invention, the scale being increased over the actual size ofthe instrument. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal, central sect-ion through the same, the electrical conductor coupling being broken away. Fig. 3 is a transverse section .taken on the. )lane indicated by line 3, 3 of Fig. 2, and looking in the direction indicated by the arrow. Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on the lane indicated by line 4, 5 of Fig. 2, and looking in the direction indicated by the arrow, the parts being shown on an enlarged scale. Fig. 5 is a similar view to Fig. 4 on the same scale, and taken on the same plane and looking in the same direction, the plug and light connections being removed. Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken on the planes indicated by line 6, 6 of Fig. '2, the parts being shown on the same scale as in Figs. 4 and 5. Fig. 7 is a transverse section taken on the plane indicated by line 7, 7 of Fig. 2, and looking in the direction indicated by the arrow, the parts being shown on the same scale as in Fig. G. Fig. S is an end view of the part-s seen in F ig.`l 2, the parts being shown on the same scale as Fig. 7.

In this art, and particularbv with reference near the inner end oi' the tube retained in position by suitable connections extending outwardly through the tube, but dilliculty has been experienced in prevent-ing the light and its connections from becoming entangled with the cleansing swabs and other articles introduced through the tube. To avoid this dilliculty, itl has been proposed to iix upon the tube a` second tube ofrelatively smaller diameter than the niain tube of the speculuni and to form an aperture in the wall of the main tube at or near its inner end, so that the light` and its connections may be inserted in the smaller tube and the rays of light may enter through the aperture into the larger tube, but the diliculty with this proposed structure is that in inspecting the passage it is necessary to revolve the speculum and the smaller.` tube projecting laterally as it does from the larger tube abnormally distends the parts and renders revolution ot' the specuhun intenselyv painful to the patient. Dilliculty also has been found in cleansing the smaller tube, as the red nced diameter of the tube does not ol'er facility for access. It is proposed by the present invention to largely obviate the dilliculties suggested and at the saine time to gain all the advantages of formerly proposed structures.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, 1 indicates a tubular body which may be of any desired diameter and length according to the particular passage to be inspected. To the outer end of the body 1 is fixed an operating disk 2, and the inner end of the body is preferably restricted, as at 3. Thebodyportion 1 is grooved longitudinally, as at 4, and the slot- 4 opens into an internally arranged longitudinal housing 5 which may consist of a separate casing fixed :o the walls of the body 1, or may be formed integral with the body as preferred, it being observed that the casing 5 lies entirely wit-hin the body 1, and therefore leaves the body perfectly cylindrical, while at the same time ready access is 'ail'ordcd to the interior of the casing 5 by the longitudinal slot 4; ln i' act the casing 5 with its outlet 4 may be considered a longitudinal guide-way or under-cut groove formed in the wall of the body portion 1. he inner end of the casing 5 terminates short of the limer end of the body portion 1, and the material of the body portion is preferablybent, as at 6, across` the longitudinal planes of the casing 5 and spaced therefrom, a space 7 thus beingv left between the inner end of the casing and the. innerend of the bodyporti'on 1. A relatively small housing S is provided whichis formed integral with the wall of body 1 and positioned for closing the longitudinal slot 4. The casing 5 terminates with the termination of the slot 4, and the housing S extends from the inner end of the slot 1 to the bent portion 6, said housing 8, in operation, being dcsigned to cover the lamp 9. Obviously, the housing S is made as small as practicable and as nearly continuous of the transversely circular lines of the cylindrical wall of the body portion 1 as possible. 1s obvious that as the figures of the drawing are many diameters greater than the actua! device, the housing S has the a pcarance of projecting unich farther beyond) the lines o." the cylindrical wall of the body than it actually does in the instrument.

The lamp 9 is carried by a suitable cylindrical casing 10 which fits snugly within the guide-way 5 and is introduced into and removed from the guide-way by longitudinal movement.. The body portion 1 extends through the disk 2 and the casing 10, lying within guide-way or casing 5, also extends through the disk and may be provided willi any suitable electrical connections, as a plug l1 which may be connected in any suitable marner to a source of electrical supply, current being supplied. through conductor 12 arranged in the plug and extending down through the casing and insulated from the plug and casing by suitable insulation 13, the return being simply grounded on the casing. The plug 11 is retained in position by a depending lug 14 which extends'through a radial slot 15 formed in the disk To enable introduction ofthe body portion 1 and its accom anying parts without injury to the surrounding membranes, a plug 16 is extended through the inner end of the body portion 1, and is suit-ably rounded o to enable spreading ofthe membranes without occasioning excessive ain. The plug 16 is carried by a shaft 17 suitably fixed to a handle 1S arranged at the outer end of the bodu portion 1. The lug 16 is provided at one side with a concave groove for accommodating the bent portion 6.

In operation, the plug 16 and lamp 9 being in the position indicated in Fig. 2, the body portion 1 is passed longitudinally into the passage to be inspected, and after having )een inserted to the required extent, the lug 16 is Withdrawn and the current turne on for laine The light from the Iam shines through Lhe aperture 7 and through t le onen end of the bodv port-ion 1 upon the wall of the passage on die opposite side of the body In this connection it passage is carried out by revolving the body portion 1 and witlnlrawingit alittle atatime. Thus in urethral inspection, minute derangemen'ts may readily be discovered and suitable remedies applic-1l locally which would be injurious if injected in the passage.

Vv'hile the present improved structure has been specifically disclosed as a urethral speeulum, it by no means follows that the invention is limited thereto, but the invention obviously comprehends speculums generally, and especially those employed in passages in which excessive dilation is objectionable.

It is apparent that the casing 5 serves as a guide way for firmly retaining the lamp and its connections against lateral play, so that the lamp is not free to be knocked about or moved in the body portion 1, and, therefore, swabs maybe introduced and removed without liability of entanglement with the lamp and its connections.

It is to be observed furthermore that the casing 10 closes slot 1 and thus presents to the surrmlmling membranes a continuous, even surface free from projections or corners liable to lace-rate or injure the membranes. The casing also serves to sustain the lamp rigidly in ilaee, and thus obviates any danger of the lamp dropping down into the path of a swab or other appliance introduced through the speculum.

The termination of the guide way or casing atthe beginning of the housing S leaves the lamp 9 entirely exposed `within the body 1,- so that the illumination of the tissues surrounding the inner end of the sueculum will be much better than if the light had been situated in an auxiliary chamber, and the light rays projected forwardly through a small aperture at a considerable angle into the speculum. The bent portion 6, extending as it does across the longitudinal planes of the light and toward the longitudinal axis of the body 1, will tend to relicct the light against the immediately opposite tissue.

'Ihat I claim is 1. In a specuhuu, a cylindrical, hollow body portion, a casing arranged longitudinally of and entirely within the body po Lion and a lamp and its connections snugly fitting in said casing and tllingthe. same.

2. In a speculurn, a `hollow, cylindrical body portion, a eri-fifig arranged in the body portion and extending longitudinally thereof and terminating contiguous to the inner end of the body portion, the wall of the body portion being slotted longitudinally along the said casing, and light connections arranged in said easinfr and closing the slot.

3. In a speculum, a substantially cylindrical, hollow body portion, a casing extending therein and terminating contiguous to the inner end of the body portion, a lamp disposed at the inner end of the said casing,

j portion 1 to the lamp. The inspection of the l i and a: tubular connection for said iight lying within said casing wlth the outermost points of its surface substantially in the transversely circular lines ofthe outer surface of the body portion.

4. ln a. speculum, a substantially cylindrical, hollow body portion, and a easing extending longitudinally of and Within the body portieri and terminating contiguous to the inner end thereof, the said casing being adapted to receive connections for a light, and a light being adapted to be disposed substantially at the inner end of the casing, the material of the body portion being bent at its inner end across the longitudinal planes of the casing toward the'longitudinal axis of the body portion.

5. ln a speculunl, a hollow, substantially cylindrical )ody portion, a casing extending longitudinallyY thereof the walls of the body portion eo-incident with the casing beingl slotted longitudinally of the casing, a lamp arranged at the inner end of the casing and disposed for having its rays projected into the body portion, connections for said light extending within the casing and substantially filling the same, and a cover or housing for the light closing the inner end of the slot.

6. In a speculum, a holloi' substantially cylindrical body portion, a lam therein, and means extending longitudinal y o-and entirel f within the body portion for retaining the lamp rigidly against lateral movement.

7. ln av speculuin, a hollow, substantially c 'lindrical body portion, a lamp arranged therein, a guide for the lamp, and means arranged entirelyT within the body portion and l i i l l 1 1 a l l engaging the guide for rigidly retaining the lamp in position.

8. In a speculum, a hollow, cylindrical body portion, a casing arranged in the body portion and extending longitudinally thereof, the wall of the body portion being slotted longitudinally along the casing, and light connections removably arranged in said casing and fleeing said slot.

9. ln a speculum, a hollow, cylindrical body portion, a guide arranged entirely within the body portion, and light connections slidingly and removably mounted in said guide and adapted to support a light rigidly against lateral movement.

10. ln a speculuin` a hollow, cylindrical body portion slotted longitudinally, a guiding casing extending longitudinally of the body portion and opening into the slot thereof, and lamp carrying means removably arranged within said guiding casing and substantially filling the same, said lamp carrying means being provided with a transversely curved surface lying in and extending throughout the length of the slot.

l. ln a speculuni, a substantially cylindrical, hollow body portion, an under-cut gui-le way casing arranged therein and formed with an opening along the length of the body port-ion, and a light connection casing fitted within said guide Way and closing said opening.

In testimony whereof l affix Iny signature in presence of two witnesses.

WYILLIALI MEYER. Witnesses Joux T. POWER, EDWARD V. PETERSON. 

